Rectifier transformer



Aprll 17, 1945 A. J. MAsLlN 2,374,029

RECTIFIER TRANSFORMER Original Filed June 18, 1940 n 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR April 17, 1945.

A. J. MASLIN RECTIFIER TRANSFORMER Original Filed June 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Shee 2 Alberi J /WUSZZ'M ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1945 nEcrIFma 'TRANSFORMER n, Pa., assigner to West- Manufacturing Company,

I l Alberi J. Manin, sham inghouse Electric &

East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Renn- Sylvania Original application'iune 18, 1940, Serial No. 341,107. Divided and this application February 10, 1943, Serial No. 475,413

Claims. (Cl. 17E-356) This invention relates to electrical induction apparatus vsuch as transformers used for supply ing alternating-current' energy to mercury arc power rectiers and the like.

This application is a division oi.' my copending application for rectifier transformers Serial No. 341,107 filed June 18, 1940, and assigned to the l same assignee as this application.

In order to obtain a direct current voltage l from a power rectifier having the desired char,

acteristics, it is necessary to apply an alternating current power supply usually of six phases or -more of avoltage having a definite relation to the direct current voltage to the anodes of the rectifier. Usually, the rectifier is supplied from a three-phase alternating current systeml having a voltage that diners from that required to be supplied to the anodes. Therefore, a, transformer is required between the power supply and the rectifier to transform the available alternating current energy to the proper voltage and number of phases required for the anodes.

Rectifier transformers differ from ordinary power transformers used for transforming alternatlng current power from one voltage to a1ternating current power of another voltage because of the diierent'character of the load on the sec ondary of the transformer. The usual power transformer or distribution transformer supplies a load having a substantially constant impedance per phase over the whole cycle of alternating curu rent voltage. A rectifier transformer, on the other hand, carries current only during part of an alternating current cycle because of the valve action of the rectifier which permits current flow through the anode in one direction only.

It is desirable that rectifier transformers have as low a leakage reactance as possible. The transformer must, however, be capable of limiting the'current ow therethrough in the case of short circuits. Because of the unsymmetrical load on the secondary windings of a rectifier transformer, it is desirable that these windings be so arranged and distributed with respect to the primary windings and to each other that balanced magnetic conditions exist under normal or abnormal working conditions. l

Rectifier transformers are also subject to very high stresses during a backfire such as may result from the failure of the valve action of one or' more of the anodes. During normal operation of a rectifier. the valve action is such that current normally flows only from the anode to the cathode. If, however, a, cathode spot develops for any reason on one of the anodes, current from the other anodes will iiow to the backfiring anode. 'thus forming a short circuit within the apparatus. The current flowing through such a backflring anode is limited only by the resistance and reactance of the transformer windings.

In order to minimize the forces occurring during short circuits or backre, it is necessary that the leakage field of all secondary windings occupy as nearlyas possible the same space within the transformer and that the windings be so disposed with respect to each other that they are balanced magnetically. The former provision serves to reduce the force exerted on a given winding during short circuit conditions when several windings are involved below the value that would exist if the leakage eld of each winding had its own separate path. The latter provision serves to eliminate undesirable components of force due to displaced magnetic centers. l

.An object of the present invention .is the pro vision of a rectiier transformer having the maximum ability to withstand short circuits and backfires of the rectifier.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description vof preferred embodiments of the' invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure lis a diagrammatic view of connections of a three-phase transformer comprising an embodiment of the invention arranged to supply six rectifier anodes;

Fig. 2 is a chart showing the tap connections for different positions of the tap changing switch for the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a polarity diagram of the connections of the windings shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section showing the arrangement of the windings about one winding leg of a core structure corresponding to one of the three phases shown diagrammatlcally in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the connections of the coils comprising the high-voltage winding shown in Fig. 4; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are elevational views of the lowvoltage windings of the transformers shown vin Fig. 4.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, and particularly to Fig. 1, three high-voltage circuit conductors HI, H5 and H6 are provided for supplying the high-voltage side of the transformer and six low-voltage terminals X1 to XIZ, inclusive, are provided for supplying'current to six rectifier anodes, the several winding parts of the high and low-voltage windings being connected together, as shown, by the polarity diagram in Fig. 3, which corresponds to the circuit diagram of Fig. 1. On each phase of the three-phase core structure similar sets of winding groups are provided, indicated in Fig. 1 as phases A, B and C, respectively. The corresponding parts of the groups of each of these three phases are similarly numbered in the diagram of Fig. 1. Each of the high-voltage windings |2| is provided with tap or terminal conductors to Ill, inclusive. The high-voltage windings of phase A are connected between junction point |22 on conductor H4 and junction point |24 on conductor H6. The highvoltage windings of phase B are connected between junction points |22 and |23 on conductors H4 and H5, respectively, and the high-voltage windings of phase C are connected between junction points |23 and |24 on phase conductors H5' and H6, respectively.

Each of the three phases of the transformer is provided with four low-voltage windings |25, |28, |21 and |28 connected between associated pairs of terminals numbered ||2 to H9, inclusive, as shown in Fig. 1, and each of these windings comprising two parallel conductors designated with d the number of the completed winding followed by the letter A or B. For example, the Winding |25 comprises the two parallel connected conductors |25A and |25B.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the high-voltage winding |2| comprises a plurality of disc-type coils |3| and |613, inclusive. The iigures are broken in parts to reduce the dimension of the drawings so that in Fig. 5, for example, the coils |33 to |56, inclusive, and |59 to |62, inclusive, are omitted. As best shown in Figs. 6 and '1, the low-voltage windings consist of eight conductors each wound in the form of a helix, each of the conductors extends for the full length of the winding and is arranged in the form of two cylindrical spool structures, one within the other. The two parallel connected Iconductors of each of the windings shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 are positioned in balanced relation to the other two conductors of the associated winding on the same spool. For example, referring to Fig. 6, the conductor |25A and conductor |25B are the -two outer of the four edgewound interleaved conductors and have common terminals H2 and M3 connected together, as shown in Fig'. 1. Likewise, the two conductors |21A and |21B are positioned between conductors |25A and |253 so that the entire four conductors have a common magnetic center and are symmetrically dispod so that, in effect, they occupy the same positions.

Similarly, referring to Fig. 7, the two conductors |26A and |26B that are connected in parallel between terminals H6 and ||5 are positioned between conductors 123A and |28B spaced on opposite sides of conductors |28A and |28B and connected in parallel between terminals ||8 and H9. 'Ihe edgewound conductors shown in Fig. 'I are positioned about a central tubular insulating member |1| having nanges |12 at each end, and, as best shown in Fig. 4, are disposed closely about the winding leg of the core structure |16. The several helically Wound conductors shown in Fig. 6 are similarly positioned about a central tubular insulating member |13 having end flanges |14 which surround the inner winding structure comprising the conductors |28A, |28B and |26A, |26B, shown in Fig. '1. The high-voltage winding, comprising the fiat disc-type coils |3| to.

|34, inclusive, is positioned about a tubular/insulating member |15 which surrounds the group of windings comprising the conductor |25A, |25B and |21A, |21B.

It will be appreciated from the construction herein described that the secondary windings of the several phases of the transformer are closely coupled and so positioned as to be balanced magnetically. The arrangement of the several conductors comprising the several secondary windings is such that the leakage iield of these windings occupy the same space within the transformer.

It will be appreciated that a completed transformer consists either of a core structure having three winding legs about each of which a complete set of high and low-voltage windings are positioned corresponding to each of the three phases of the transformer or of three singlephase transformers having the illustrated and described arrangement of the groups of high and low-voltage windings are provided. It will likewise be appreciated that, if desired, the arrangement of three cylindrical winding structures, such as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, may be used for each half of the Winding structure.

Many modifications in the circuits and apparatus illustrated and described within the spirit of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art, and I do not wish to be limited otherwise than by thescope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Electrical apparatus comprising inductively related high-voltage and low-voltage windings o direction about an axis at a constant radius therefrom to form a helix, the several conductors being interleaved and those comprising one pair being positioned between the conductors comprising another pair to establish a balanced magnetic coil structure in which the several windings have the same magnetic center.

2. Electrical aparatus comprising inductively related high-voltage and low-voltage windings disposed about the winding leg of a core structure, each low-voltage winding comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel connected coils, each coil consisting of a flat ribbon shaped conductor wound edgewise as a helix and having a single layer of successive turns progressing in the same direction about an axis at a constant radius therefrom, the coils being arranged in groups, the several conductors comprising the coils of one group having the sameouter and inner diameters and being interleaved, and those conductors comprising one pair being positioned between the conductors comprising another pair to establish a balanced magnetic coil structure in which the several windings have the same magnetic center.

3. Electrical apparatus comprising inductively related high-voltage and low-voltage windings disposed about the winding leg of a core structure, the low-voltage winding comprising a plurality of concentrically positioned spools of winding conductors, each spool supporting a low-voltage winding comprising a, plurality of pairs of parallel connected coils, each coil consisting o! a conductor having a single-layer of successive turns progressing in the same direction about an axis at a constant radius therefrom to form 'a helix, the several conductors in each spool being interleaved and those comprising one pair being between the conductors comprising another pair to establish a balanced magnetic coil structure in which the several windings have the same magnetic center.

4. Electrical apparatus comprising inductively related high-voltage and low-voltage windings disposed about the winding leg oi' a core structure, the low voltage winding comprising a plurality of concentrically positioned spools of winding conductors, each spool supporting a lowvoltage winding comprising a pair of parallel ccnnected coils, each coil consisting of a conductor having a single layer of successive turns progressing in the same direction about an axis at a constant radius therefrom t'o form a helix, the several turns of the separate conductors in each spool being interleaved with like turns of an ad- `iacent conductor, the high-voltage winding cornprising a plurality of disc-type coils connected in series and positioned about the low-voltage winding. Y

l5. In a three phase electrical induction apparatus, a core having a winding leg for each phase, each of the three phases being provided with four low-voltage windings connected between associated pairs of terminals and each winding comprising two parallel conductors, the conductors being arranged in two groups mounted on two concentrically positioned spools of winding conductors, each spool supporting a low-voltage winding comprising a pair of parallel connected coils, each coil consisting oi' a conductor having a single layer of successive turns progressing in `the same direction about an axis at aconstant radius therefrom to form a helix, the several conductors in each spool being interleaved and those comprising one pair being between the conductors comprising another pair to establish a balanced magnetic coil structure in which the several windings have the same magnetic center.

6. Electrical apparatus comprising inductively related high-voltage and low-voltage windings disposed about .the winding leg of a core structure, each low-voltage winding comprising pairs of parallel connected coils, each coil consisting of a fiat ribbon shaped conductor wound edgewise and having a single `layer oi' successive turns progressing in the same direction about an axis at a constantradius therefrom to form a helix. the several conductors being interleaved and those conductors comprising one pair of parallel connected coils being positioned between the conductors comprising another pair of parallel connected coils to establish a balanced magnetic coil structure in which the several windings have the same magnetic center.

1. Electrical apparatus comprising inductively yrelated high-voltage and low-voltage windings disposed about the winding leg of a core structure the low-voltage windings being connected between associated pairs of terminals and each winding comprising a pair of parallel connected coils, the coils being arranged in two concentrically positioned spools oi' winding conductors, each spool supporting a pair of parallel connected coils. each coil consisting of a fiat ribbon shaped conductor wound edgewise as a helix `and having a single layer oi successive turns progressing in the same direction about an axis at a constant radius therefrom, the coils in each spool being arranged in groups, the several conductors comprising the coils of one spool having the same outer and inner diameters and being interleaved, and those conductors comprising one pair of parallel connected coils being positioned between the conductors comprising another pair of parallel connected coils to establish a balanced magnetic coil structure in which the several windings have the same magnetic center.

8. Electrical apparatus comprising inductively related high-voltage and low-voltage windings disposed about the winding leg of a core structure. the low voltage winding group comprising a plurality of concentrically positioned spools of winding conductoraeach spool supporting a pair of low-voltage windings, each winding comprising a pair of parallel connected coils, each coil consisting of a i'iat ribbon shaped conductor wound edgewise and having a single layer o! successive turns progressing in the same direction about an axis at a constant radius therefrom to form a helix, the several conductors in each spool being interleaved and those conductors comprising one pair of coils being between the conductors comprising another pair of coils to establish a balanced magnetic coil structure in which the several windings, each having a pair of coils, have the same magnetic center.

9. Electrical apparatus comprising inductively related high-voltage and low-voltage windings disposed about the winding leg of a core structure. the low voltage winding group comprising a plurality of concentrically positioned spools of winding conductors, each spool supporting a low-voltage winding comprising a pair of parallel connected coils, each coil consisting of a ilat ribbon 4shaped conductor wound edgewise and having a single layer oi' successive turns progressing in the same direction about an axis at a constant radius therefrom to form a helix, the several turns of the separate conductors in each spool being interleaved with like turns ci an adjacent conductor, the high-voltage winding comprising a plurality oi disc-type coils connected in series and positioned about the lowvoltage winding.

10. In a three phase electrical induction apparatus. a core having a winding leg for each phase, each of the three phases being provided with four low-voltage windings connected between associated pairs of terminals and each winding comprising two parallel conductors, the conductors being arranged in two groups mounted on two concentrically positioned spools oi winding conductors. each spool supporting a low-voltage winding comprising a pair of parallel connected coils, each coil consisting of a fiat ribbon shaped conductor wound edgewise and having a single layer of successive turns progressing in the same direction about an axis at a constant radius therefrom to form a helix. the several turns of the separate conductors in each spool being interleaved with like turns of an adjacent conductor, the high-voltage winding comprising a plurality of disc type coils connected in series and positioned about the lowlwindin vom" l AUBERT J. msnm. 

